After publicity in the media, the decision to draft a young priest from Novohradek into the army was canceled

2023-05-23 12:17:10

“Fr. Dmitriy, the vicar in Novohradok, will not join the army. Praise Jesus!”, – wrote on May 23, priest Yury in the “Catholics of Belarus” group on Facebook.

The day before, there was information that the priest Dmitry Maltsa called up for military service.

Catholic figure Artem Tkachuk explained in a post on Facebook that although priests were not legally exempted from conscription, previously in practice young priests received a deferment. It seemed that the situation had changed.

“Priests are now being drafted into the army. Since the 1990s, there was a mechanism according to which the issue of conscripting young clerics and priests into the army was regulated. It was not legally stated anywhere that clergymen are exempted from this duty. Therefore, twice a year, the bishops prepared a special list of clerics and priests who were to be drafted into the army, and the relevant state authorities granted a postponement. A few years ago, several priests and clerics were almost drafted into the military.

Then they received summonses to the military office, and there was no delay until the very last moment. However, in the end it was still given. As we can see, the authorities decided to exercise their right and did not grant a reprieve to priest Dmitrii Malts. Time will tell what will happen to other clerics and priests. Unless there is still talk of enlisting clerics of the interdiocesan seminary in Hrodna into the army. If they are deprived of the deferment, the activities of the educational institution will actually be paralyzed for a year and a half,” Artyom Tkachuk wrote.

• Dmytry Malec was born on June 18, 1996, was ordained a deacon on November 16, 2019, served in the cathedral church in Hrodna. It is likely that the last place of service was Navahradak. He has less than a month left until he is 27, when the draft age ends.